Staff Sergeant Edmonde J Walker (#14056678) was born in 1913 in Connecticut. He enlisted 4 June 1941 at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia.

On 25 June 1943, the crew, part of 349th Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, left Thorpe Abbots Field, England. They were flying B-17 #42-3260, nicknamed “Angel’s Tit” with a target of the submarine pits of Bremen. They were part of a 30-plane contingent. Three of those planes (and their accompanying crews) were lost that day. An exact sequence of events on this mission, the first flown by the 100th, is difficult to determine. Bad weather forcing the group to lose formation was a contributing factor. This was the first mission for this crew having just arrived in England earlier in the month.

After take-off, assembly, and flying across the North Sea, the formation drew intense flak from batteries located on islands approximately 20 miles off the enemy coast. As the formation neared the mainland, it was attacked by 30 enemy fighters. One singled out Adams' aircraft, and made a slashing attack. The B-17, raked by cannon and machine gun fire, fell out of formation, out of control. The pilot rang the bail-out bell, but most crew evidently did not hear it. In the words of the only survivor, "There was this enormous explosion, and I found myself outside the aircraft."

Nick Demchak was the only crew member to successfully parachute out of the aircraft. However, he was immediately picked up by the Germans and became a prisoner of war. Only the bodies of Adams and Asbornsen were recovered. The remaining crew members are commemorated on the “Wall of Missing” at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England.

The crew:

Adams III, Alonzo Pelton, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot, NY

Krech, George Zorrah, Flight Officer, Copilot, IL

Demchak, Nicholas, Navigator,

Gurley, Jesse David, Lt, Bombardier, AK

Sullivan, John K, Staff Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner/Eng, MI

Purcell, James D, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator Gunner, NY

Kruzich, John G, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, IA

Walker, Edmonde J, Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner, GA

Asbjornsen, Norman, Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner, NJ

Hutchinson, Bryant, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, CA